Nov 12
The Joy of the Holy Gospel according to Pope Francis (Lk 17,20-25)
The Lord never says that the Kingdom of God is a spectacle. Of course, “it is a celebration, but it’s different! It’s a beautiful celebration, a grand feast. And Heaven will be feast, but not a spectacle”. Instead, “our human weakness prefers a spectacle”.

As opposed to a spectacle, there is “the perseverance of so many Christians carrying the family forward: men, women who care for their children, take care of grandparents, who have only 50 cents in their pocket by month’s end, but they pray”. And the Kingdom of God “is there, hidden in that holiness of daily life, that everyday holiness”. Because “the Kingdom of God is not far from us, it’s close”.

The very “closeness is one of the characteristics” of the Kingdom. It is an “everyday” closeness. the Kingdom of God is humble, like a seed: humble; but it becomes big by the power of the Holy Spirit”. And we have to “let it grow within us, without boasting. May the Spirit come, change our soul and lead us forth in silence, in peace, in quiet, in closeness to God, to others, in adoration of God, without pageantry”. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 13 November 2014)